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Currency Converter Help


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  1. How do I use the Currency Converter?
  2. Why can't I find the currency I'm looking for?
  3. Why can't I convert currencies?
  4. How do rates differ from the old fxConverter?
  5. What other languages are available for the Currency Converter?
  6. How can I convert currencies while I am traveling?
  7. How can I get the rates from the Currency Converter for my business, website, or personal needs?
  8. How can I compare historical exchange rates for multiple currencies?
  9. Can you tell me the best time to exchange my money or to buy or sell currencies?

Help for OANDA Rates and other Currency Tools

1. How do I use the Currency Converter?

Use the Currency Converter to calculate exchange rates for any day back to January, 1990. Add percentages to get more realistic rates like what you’re charged by banks or credit card companies.

  • Type currency names, 3-letter ISO currency symbols, or country names to select your currency. Convert world currencies, precious metals, or obsolete currencies, which are marked with an asterisk (*).
  • Type values in either side of the converter, depending on if you have money to exchange or if you want money to purchase items costing a certain amount.
  • Choose a percentage from the Interbank rate list to better approximate the tourist exchange rates actually charged by your financial institution. How do I choose the Interbank rate that applies to me?

Example: I want to know the rate quoted in the media.

  • The "Interbank" rate is the official rate.

    Example Image

Example: I’m buying something with a credit card. What will it cost?

  • I’m in Europe and want to buy something that costs 500 euros. How much will it cost me in US dollars?
  • I made a 500 euro purchase by credit card over the Internet. How much will the bill be in US dollars?


    Example

Example: I made a credit card transaction in the past.  How much did it cost me?

  • When I was in Europe, I bought something that cost 500 euros on January 8, 2011.
  • I made a 500 euro purchase by credit card over the Internet on January 8, 2011.

Example: I want a certain amount of cash. How much will it cost me?

  • I want 500 euros in cash. How many US dollars will the bank charge me?
  • I want to send 500 euros. How many US dollars will I need? (Not including bank service charges.)

Example: I have foreign cash left over. The bank says they charge a spread of 4.5%. How much will I get for it?

  • I have 500 euros left over from my trip. How many US dollars will they give me?

2. Why can't I find the currency I'm looking for?

For the new Currency Converter, you can type in the name of a country or a currency or a three-letter ISO code.

We try to keep the list of countries and currencies up to date for all currencies where there is reliable data available from financial institutions. If you can't find the currency you're looking for, please send us feedback.

3. Why can't I convert currencies?

If one of the currencies you select is not in effect for the date you request (for example, it's obsolete or not yet introduced), you will see a message that the exchange rate data is not available.

If you are not receiving this message, please ensure that you are using a browser that supports Javascript. We have tested with Firefox 3.0, Internet Explorer 6.0+, Safari 3, Google Chrome 3 and Opera 10.

4. How do rates differ from the old fxConverter?

The Currency Converter shows the bid rate in the right field when you enter a value in the left field. This is different from OANDA's old fxConverter, which shows the ask rate. To see the ask rate in the new converter, simply go to the lower details section and look for the relevant "Buying" entry.

You can find more details in our Help for fxConverter Classic page.

5. What other languages are available for the Currency Converter?

Aside from English, the currency converter is also available in the following languages:  Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portugese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

6. How can I convert currencies while I am traveling?

You can access OANDA rates anywhere using any of our Mobile Currency Converters, available for Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone 7 operating systems.

You can also create your own wallet-sized exchange rate reference card using the Traveler's Cheatsheet tool on our Currency Converter.

7. How can I get the rates from the Currency Converter for my business, website, or personal needs?

There are several ways that you can receive automated updates on OANDA Exchange Rates:

  • Receive OANDA rates in either XML or CSV format so you can integrate them seamlessly into your external website or internal transaction system.
  • Receive automated emails containing daily, weekly, or monthly currency data using our Currency E-mail service.
  • Add OANDA’s popular Currency Converter to your website for free, in a compact widget format, using our Currency Converter for Publishers tool.

8. How can I compare historical exchange rates for multiple currencies?

If you seek historical exchange rates information for a single currency pair and date, you can use the Date option on the Currency Converter to get the result you are looking for. However, if you would like to compare multiple currency pairs or exchange rates over a period of time, you can use our Historical Exchange Rates tool. This tool allows you to compare exchange rate data for up to 5 currencies simultaneously, as either a graph or a table, for any period back to 1990.

You can visit the Olsen Data website to obtain further information on how to obtain exchange rates prior to 1990.

9. Can you tell me the best time to exchange my money or where to buy or sell currencies?

No, we do not give personal consulting on the exact date and time to exchange your money or provide recommendations on where to buy or sell currencies. To find out the best places to change your money, contact your local bank or travel agency.

If you are traveling, you may want to try our fxDelivery service for foreign currency or prepaid debit MasterCard® delivery to your home.

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